Philadelphia Private Investigator

Criminal Defense Investigators: They Can Make the Difference in the Outcome of Your Case.

Criminal defense investigators routinely play a key role in assisting attorneys uncover reasonable doubt when defending clients against serious criminal allegations pre and post trial. Many individuals are acquitted  of charges and have convictions overturned for a variety of reasons. A thorough investigation by a skilled private investigator specializing in criminal defense investigations can be the most important part of your defense. 

When an individual has been charged with a crime there are many things at stake, most importantly your reputation and freedom. In addition, you could have a criminal record that follows you for life making it extremely difficult to find employment, housing, and other necessities upon your release. And you could be required to pay restitution, which could make it more difficult to get back on your feet.  Worse, you might be charged with a serious crime that could imprison you for the rest of your life. 

Once an individual charged with a crime has found a skilled defense attorney to represent them, a private investigator specializing in criminal defense investigations may also be added to the defense team to assist in reviewing evidence, establishing alibis, locating witnesses, conducting interviews, and other supporting tasks. 

It’s important to remember that the state attorney prosecuting your case is relying on evidence gathered by law enforcement that have vastly more resources available to them than you will have in your defense. Hiring a private investigator specializing in criminal defense investigations can be the difference between going free and going to jail. 

The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees an individual the right to due process. Having a skilled defense team can increase your chances of making sure your case is properly investigated and defended. The prosecution’s team consists of the trial attorney, police investigators, experts, and other witnesses, which could potentially give them a great advantage over your attorney when presenting evidence in a court of law. Exercising your guaranteed right to due process allows an independent evaluation of the evidence and investigation to be conducted. An experienced private investigator can be a great asset to your case. The police don’t always get it right. 

Serious Charges Withdrawn and Man Released from Prison 

In one recent criminal case in Reading, PA, as a private investigator I assisted criminal defense attorney Elizabeth Ebner who was representing a client charged with the robbery and shooting of another individual. The client was incarcerated for nearly 8 months awaiting trial while adamantly maintaining his innocence. Based on the information in the police reports and her client asserting his innocence and providing helpful information not thoroughly investigated by the police, Attorney Ebner hired me to assist her in establishing the client’s alibi by conducting an independent investigation. Upon the completion of my investigation, the newly developed information was presented to the prosecuting attorney for review before going to trial. The evidence we provided was evaluated and led to the withdrawal of the charges and immediate release of the client from prison. 

I worked in law enforcement for over twenty years having investigated many complex cases, and have a great deal of respect for the profession. But I also know that there are many reasons police investigations are challenged, and can ultimately result in a favorable outcome for the individual charged with a crime because of a skilled defense team. 

 

Jeff Reichart

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Reading, PA Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner. 

Cheating Spouses, Child Custody, & Workers' Compensation Cases Keep Private Investigators Busy During Holiday Season

Cheating Spouse, child custody, and workers' compensation surveillance investigations keep private investigators busy during the holidays.

When I retired as a Reading police detective and became a private investigator I knew working nights, weekends and holidays weren’t a thing of the past. Surveillance cases seem to increase over the holidays. 

Child custody investigations are popular during this time of year. The biggest concern is children attending holiday parties with a parent who might act irresponsibly after consuming alcohol, or in some cases controlled substances. 

Cheating spouse investigations also seem to increase because the target of the investigation will try to spend time with the individual they are having an affair with. There are more opportunities for the target to go “Christmas shopping” or “ work-related holiday parties” where they could reasonably go alone. 

The holidays can give a cheater more excuses to be alone, and parents additional opportunities to act in ways that can be detrimental to the welfare of children. Private investigators can help you determine if your spouse is cheating or your children are in an unsafe environment during this season. 

Workers’ compensation investigations are no less active. Claimants can be on the move visiting family and friends, attending different events, and shopping which requires a lot of walking and carrying, loading and unloading packages. Many claimants involved in fraudulent activity believe they are safe from surveillance during the holidays, but this can be one of the best times to catch them off guard.  

In addition to surveillance investigations, private investigators keep busy with all other types of cases as well. For anyone who thought this profession was a 9-5 job with a lot of free time, I can tell you different.

I do wish you a happy and safe holiday season!

 

Jeff Reichart

Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia & Reading Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

Our Role as Private Investigators.

Disclaimer:

Jeffrey M. Reichart, president of Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC, owns the Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC website and Philadelphia Private Investigator blog. All content contained on this site or blog is solely for reference purposes.

No information contained on this site should be considered legal advice. 

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC, and its official blog, Philadelphia Private Investigator, does not offer legal advice, and any information contained on our website www.privateinvestigatorsphiladelphia.com or this blog is solely intended to be informational based on the investigative experiences and opinions of the site owner, or reference. 

Please do not contact our agency if you are in need of legal advice. 

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC, provides attorney support for criminal defense and civil litigation cases. Our role consist of gathering evidence through interviews, research, surveillance, and other methods to provide attorneys with the information needed to defend a case. 

Although it is not necessary to contact an attorney prior to the commencement of an investigation in cases such as cheating spouses, child custody, alimony and cohabitation, etc., it is strongly recommended. Many clients choose to confirm any suspicions they have by hiring a private investigator to gather potential evidence prior to contacting an attorney, which is common and acceptable. But only an attorney can advise you on how the law applies to your specific case. 

Our agency will only answer questions related to investigative procedures. 

When contacting a private investigator, limit your questions to their experience and capabilities. A private investigator may provide information on the law as it relates to investigative procedures, or as a matter of general reference. For instance, if a client requests that a private investigator place a recording device on their phone to gather evidence, the investigator may tell you this cannot be done because it violates state and/or federal wiretap laws. Or, if a client is merely making a general inquiry about the law, an investigator might point you in the direction of a reference resource such as a website, which is available to anyone. 

Consider an attorney to address legal questions related to your specific case. 

The Internet is a great resource but if you are not familiar with civil or criminal procedures, or specific case law, you can be at a great disadvantage if you try to navigate the legal system on your own. Most attorneys offer free consultations, and speaking with one might save you a lot of aggravation. Interpreting the law can be extremely complex and should be reserved for those who are licensed and skilled in dong so. 

In short, private investigators can assist you with gathering evidence so long as it is done legally and ethically, even without attorney involvement. They are limited in what references can be made to the law, generally how it applies to investigative procedures. However, licensed practicing attorneys should give you legal advice. In some cases, there are private investigators that are also attorneys. Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC, does not currently employ attorneys as investigators. 

Hopefully, the information in this and all other posts will assist you in understanding the role of the private investigator. All content contained on this site, blog, or all other social media site (i.e Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc.) owned by Jeffrey M. Reichart and Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC, is purely reference, and is never intended, nor should it ever be considered legal advice.  

Jeffrey M. Reichart, President

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

 

Surveillance: Covering All The Bases

Reichart & Associates

 

SURVEILLANCE – PART IV

In the previous posts, I covered surveillance using private investigators, pre-surveillance, and the reality of conducting surveillance. There may be future posts on this topic as well that could include different scenarios to give the reader a more detailed idea of what can occur when conducting these type of investigations.

The most important thing to remember about surveillance is there are no guarantees of what the outcome will be. But, if the right information is provided and careful planning takes places, surveillance can be an extremely effective in gathering the evidence needed to support your case. Surveillance is the most requested service of a private investigator. Workers’ compensation and other insurance fraud investigations, along with cheating spouse and child custody cases primarily rely on the use of surveillance. 

Make sure the private investigator you consider hiring has experience in surveillance investigations. Many private investigators may specialize in other areas of investigations, but offer surveillance even though they have very little background in actually conducting it. 

Lastly, it is also important to hire a licensed private investigator. There are many people advertising private investigation services that are unlicensed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions concerning the credentials of an investigator when looking hire them. It could save you a lot of headaches.

Jeff Reichart

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

Surveillance: It's Not Like Television

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

 

SURVEILLANCE – PART III

I discussed misconceptions people have regarding surveillance in Part I, and preparation in Part II. Now let me explain the realities that investigators face when conducting surveillance investigations.

Television is dominated with police shows, and often the average person believes that whatever they see being played out on television holds true in a real life situation. Some programs also feature private investigators, and although the exciting lifestyle portrayed is entertaining and appealing, it speaks very little to what actually takes place during surveillance, or any investigation for that matter.

There are the reality shows that follow patrol officers and detectives such as the more popular programs like COPS that shadows police officers on patrol, and The First 48 that travel with homicide detectives during the most crucial time of the investigation. One program that specifically deals with private detectives and cheating spouses or mates is the show Cheaters. If you've ever noticed they use multiple detectives to conduct their investigations. Of course, the added personnel are for the confrontation which we don't engage in.  While these programs are real, they are also edited to fit an hour time slot, which really doesn’t give the viewer a true picture of what takes place behind the scenes. As a police officer I worked in patrol for half of my career, and investigated dozens of homicides as part of my duties in the detective division during the balance of my time on the job. When I retired and became a private investigator, I learned quickly that surveillance in law enforcement is much less challenging than in the private sector.   

When police conduct surveillance on a target they typically use teams of no less than two officers, but most likely more. I’ve been on surveillance teams with just two people, and many times a team of 6 or more depending on the nature of the investigation. The FBI has special surveillance squads that use a minimum number of operators and high tech equipment, lets just say the number is a sufficient amount that would be ideal for surveillance details in all of law enforcement and the private sector. Granted, often times the police are following high value criminal targets, and must take into consideration the officer safety factor.  

In the private investigations industry most surveillance details are conducted using one person. Whether it’s a workers’ compensation or cheating spouse investigation, cost is always the bottom line. I’m not saying surveillance can’t be done with only one person, and for the most part private investigators can adapt and be very effective, but having more than one investigator dramatically decreases the chance of loosing a target, or drawing attention to the detail. 

No matter how experienced the private investigator is, following someone poses many potential hazards and challenges due to weather, traffic and other logistical considerations, and of course, observance of vehicle laws. While some investigators might employ the use of a GPS device on the target’s vehicle, this method may not always be feasible depending on the circumstances and individual state laws regarding the use of such devices. Additionally, functionality can be an issue. Technology has come along way, but is evolving at a pace greater than the laws that govern it. 

Many other considerations play a role in surveillance such as identification of target, pedestrians, trespassing, concealment, location, court orders, target’s driving habits, condition of roadway, construction, distance traveled, day the week, time of the day, vehicle, equipment, etc. You can be the best surveillance agent in town, but get behind one school bus and a whole days work can go up in a cloud of diesel fumes in just a matter of seconds. 

The point I’m trying to stress is that an investigator cannot predict the movement of a target, or many of the conditions developing while conducting the surveillance. 

It is important to know upfront that surveillance can, and in most cases, be extremely effective but has its’ limitations like anything else. When considering the use of surveillance, don’t have unrealistic expectations, and understand there are no guarantees. Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC, takes careful steps in planning your surveillance request whether it deals with a cheating spouse, workers’ compensation, non-compete, or any other type of investigation. We enjoy great success and are always exploring ways to further maximize our surveillance techniques.  

One request that comes up often is for the installation of audio recording equipment. We DO NOT use audio recording devices during any investigation because it is a violation of  state law, specifically the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act. This type of investigation is reserved strictly for law enforcement use in the furtherance of uncovering criminal activity, and requires a court order. 

Jeff Reichart

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

 

Pre-surveillance preparation.

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC.

 

SURVEILLANCE - PART II

Following someone takes a combination of planning, background information, patience, skill, proper equipment, and just plain old luck. This article is a brief overview on planning and background.

When a private investigator prepares to conduct surveillance, it is important for them to have all the information available on the target to have the best chance of being able to make the surveillance effective. Descriptions and accompanying photos of the target, vehicles and associates (if possible), along with information regarding the target’s phone number, social networking pages, routine, habits, and frequented locations are necessary to provide the investigator so they can plan the investigation accordingly. Having the right amount of background information on the target is extremely important. If you are considering the services of a private investigator, be prepared to furnish all the information you can. This is part of the pre-surveillance stage. 

Most times when surveillance is requested for workers’ compensation and insurance fraud cases, the client is an insurance company, third party administrator, self-insured, or attorney representing those just mentioned, and they generally provide the private investigator with all the necessary information on a target to conduct a proper surveillance; However, 

Individuals that are using a private investigator for the first time such as in cheating spouse investigations, usually aren’t prepared upfront to give an investigator all the available information on the target. During the initial consultation an investigator will ask you for certain information to help them determine how to go about conducting the requested surveillance. If you are prepared at the onset, it saves time and costs in getting started. Gather as much information possible prior to contacting the private investigator, and this will help them understand what resources are needed to begin the investigation and provide estimated costs. 

The private investigator may need to conduct online database or social network research, interviews, and other types on information gathering techniques prior to actually conducting surveillance. Taking all the known details about the target into consideration will assist the investigator in determining which methods and equipment will work best in the specific surroundings when conducting the surveillance. 

Keep an eye out for more surveillance articles to be published on this blog. 

Jeff Reichart, President

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.

Surveillance using Private Investigators.

Reichart & Associates Investigative Services, LLC. 

 

SURVEILLANCE - PART I

Surveillance is a tricky business. Most people that request it don’t fully understand the dynamics involved including the risks. There are several different variables to consider when a private investigator conducts surveillance. 

The most important thing to understand is there are no guarantees on the outcome!

Entities that routinely use surveillance investigators such as insurance companies, attorneys, self-insured, third party administrators, corporations, etc., generally understand that the surveillance target is not always going to be captured in photographs or video doing something they shouldn’t be, or even located; however,

Prospective clients calling a private investigator to conduct cheating spouse, child custody, or any other type of domestic related surveillance investigations usually have misconceptions that the target is going to be caught “in the act,” and it’s going to happen right away. Many times a client will call and ask: “How long does it usually take you to catch someone?” I always tell people there is no way to predict a time frame, or even if the target will do anything wrong. We might catch someone involved in infidelity or child neglect the first night out, or we might not catch them doing anything wrong after a lengthy period of surveillance over several days or weeks. 

If a private investigator guarantees that they will not loose a target and “catch them in the act” then you might want to consider looking for another agency that knows these can be unrealistic expectations. I’ve seen private investigator websites that advertise they never loose people, and get the evidence you need. A professional investigator will tell you up front they won’t know what they’re going to discover, if anything, until they actually begin the investigation. 

Many surveillance investigations will uncover evidence of wrongdoing, and some will not turn up anything. Experienced private investigators employ different methods, techniques, technology, and use good instincts when conducting surveillance, but there is always the chance that the results you were looking for will not materialize, which doesn’t necessarily mean the investigation wasn’t successful. 

I will be posting a series of articles regarding surveillance to help you have a better understanding of what private investigators are up against when conducting these types on investigations.

 

Jeff Reichart, President

Reichart and Associates Investigative Services, LLC

Philadelphia Cheating Spouse Private Investigators

Serving Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Schuylkill, Pottstown, Chester, Pottsville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg and all of eastern Pennsylvania.

The information contained in this article is copyrighted material and cannot be reposted wholly or in part without prior consent of the owner.